Ododo’s Visit to Odo-Ape: When Compassion Meets Courage

By Kingsley Femi Fanwo

At a time when many in leadership seek safety behind government house gates and dwell more on statements without action, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has once again shown what it means to lead from the front.

Following the tragic murder of Major Joseph Ajayi (rtd.), a respected elder and former military officer, by suspected kidnappers in Odo-Ape, the Governor did not send emissaries. He did not settle for mere press releases. Instead, he embarked on a solemn journey to the grieving community to stand with the people, console the family, and confront insecurity with clarity and resolve.

In a moment that brought strength to a hurting people, Governor Ododo sat with the bereaved family, not just as a Governor, but as a fellow citizen burdened by the weight of loss. His message was clear: “You are not alone.” It was an extraordinary display of compassion in power.

Yet, he came not only to mourn , he came to act.

With unmistakable firmness, the Governor read the riot act to criminals and their enablers, declaring that Kogi State will not be a safe haven for evil. He warned against the rising scourge of internal sabotage; people within communities who leak information to kidnappers, betraying their own neighbours for money or false promises.

“We will not allow evil to thrive in our land,” he said. “Anyone who gives information to kidnappers, whether for money or out of ignorance, is equally guilty. We will fish them out. Enough is enough.”

Governor Ododo’s visit also came with strategic action. He commissioned a state of the art security outpost in the area, a concrete step toward deterrence and early response. His administration is sending a strong message that criminality will be confronted with intelligence, decisiveness, and unyielding will.

He was not at Odo Ape to tell the people what he was trying to do. He was there to give them progress reports which also include the fact that some of the criminals are already in the net of security agencies. His actions gave hope to the people.
This is not just governance. This is leadership in its purest form, where empathy meets action, and where the comfort of office is traded for the reality of the trenches.

In a country where security concerns are often met with detachment, Governor Ododo has shown that true leadership is about presence, courage, and responsibility.

Kogi State has, in Ahmed Usman Ododo, a leader who listens, feels, acts, and stands tall when it matters most.

This is what leadership looks like.

This is what compassion fused with courage can do.

Kingsley Femi Fanwo is the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications. He writes from Lokoja.